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F.A.Q & Contact Information
Our Services
Why is there a fee?
Booking with us offers you a 1:1 appointment, tailored to support your exact needs. We are highly trained and experienced across several specialisms, from pregnancy to school age. Should you choose to book with us, we offer you an exclusive experience that other retailers simple cannot. As a non profit project run by volunteers, we use our funds to support families nationwide.
Do I need an appointment?
Yes. The booking form asks questions that allow us to complete research on your behalf and identify which seats are suitalbe for you, your child, your car, budget and lifestyle. We also consdier future proofing if you have other children, or plan to extend your family! We also work around our families and booking allows us to accomdate whilst offering you our full attention.
I have more than one car...
That’s not a problem. We are very well experienced in using seats between musltiple vehicles. Our booking form will ask you details of any other cars and this will be factored in to our recommendation.
What happens during an appointment?
The form you complete during booking will offer us information to help narrow down a wide range of seats to the most suitable ones.
When you arrive in store, your little ones will be welcomed in to play in our Cosy Corner. We will introduce ourselves and offer you information on what we do, why we recommend rear facing and begin with a brief outline as to the seats we have in mind for you.
We then extensively explain the features of the seats, demonstrate how they are used and installed, fit check them with your child and give you plenty of opportunity to try them yourself. If a seat has met your needs, we then fit check in your car. Furthermore, we teach you how to install and uninstall it yourself, in your own vehicle. Again, you can try your child in the seat in your car.
If at this stage you wish to purchase a seat, we generally have stock available on the day. You are also welcome to take some time to think about it, there is absolutely no pressure from us at all.
Do you have a store?
Our very special, and much loved store, has now closed. We are looking for a new location but in the meanwhile, we will be operating online only whilst continuing with our outsanding services vitually.
Our Products
Why only rear facing?
The car seats we choose to retail are developed based on the philosophy that children and their families should be able to travel and move in the safest possible manner. Many studies based on actual car accidents, show that the risk of death or serious injury in a collision increases about 5 times for children who travel in forward-facing car seats, compared to children traveling in rear-facing car seats.
What age does rear facing go to?
At Midlands Car Seat Centre, we recommend for children to travel in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible. In most cases this up to 25 kg (soon to be 36kg with one particular seat) and preferably up to 7 years of age. Until the child has passed the maximum weight limit of the car seat or when the child’s head is up by a third above the edge of the headrest (roughly at the height of the child’s eyes) they should remain rear facing. Since all children grow in different ways, it’s difficult to offer an exact age for when it’s time to turn forwards. If it could be possible, even adults would travel rear-facing, as evidence shows it is safer for us too. A rear-facing car seat reduces children’s injuries by up to 90 percent.
Read this blog to see how the head and vertebrae develop, which are some of the biggest reasons we recommend to use rear-facing car seats as long as possible.
Why is it legal to foward face earlier?
It’s a good question, and one that are fighting to create a change in laws for. Read this blog about Erin, who followed the law and lost two of her three children in an accident. Our laws aren’t good enough. In Sweden it is common practice to rear face to a minimum of 4 years old and they have nearly NO fatalities of children.
Are multistage seats safe?
Multistage seats are legal. When it comes to independent testing, the consensus amongst multistage seats is that they pass less well in their independent stages. That is, a group 0-3 may pass fine in stage 1, poorly in stage 2, and fine in stage 3, but still be marketed as being a good choice. Now, we aren’t saying they’re unsafe, but there are LOTS of safer choices. Multistage seats will not rear face beyond 18kg, often recommend harnessing until 25kg (read this blog on harnessing in a forward facing seat) and most likely will need far more space than other seats.
The most cost effective way to travel safest of all, is to have a designated infant carrier, followed by a 25kg erf seat, then a high back booster to 150cm. Alternatively there is only one seat we do recommend from birth: the axkid one+, due to it’s excellent positioning from birth.
Is shipping available for online purchases?
Yes! You can see our options at checkout.
What are the R44, R129, and I-size regulations?
In quick terms, R44 is an outdated regulation based on weight. R129 is the new regulation based on height. Currently seats are available with either regulation and R44 seats will remain to be safe if you have recently bought one. I-size is a standardised set of conditions for vehicles and seats designed to make it easier to fit seats. An I-size seat and an I-size vehicle will be compatible with each other. I-size was the first criteria to meet the new R129 regulation, and more recently belted seats are now being manufactured to the R129 standard.
Are all UK seats safe if they are sold?
All seats sold in the UK have to have passed the baseline UK laws. Unfortunately, the criteria to pass these laws is far lower than we know to be safest. There is a large difference between legal, and safest.
At Midland Car Seat Centre, we choose our brands carefully. The seats we stock are tested to a higher standard than the UK laws. Some of our seats are independently tested through ADAC, and others have passed the toughest test – Swedish Plus Test.
Read our blog about these tests to feel fully informed in your decision.
I didn't buy my seat from you, can you fit it?
If you have a seat that we stock, and you would like it fit checked by us, you can book in here to do so: Book me in!
If it is not a seat we stock, please contact us and we may be able to assist, or refer you to another retailer who is better suited.
My Orders
What is a back order?
When ordering online, if you see a message that says ‘available on back order’, it means we have it on order, due to be delivered to us soon. With the recent changes in Brexit and the added pressure of Covid, we have been experiencing some delays and thank you very much for your patience. We will arrange for your seat to be fitted ASAP.
I would like my seat fit, can you help?
Absolutely. At checkout you will be invited to book a fit with us. We will video call you and teach you how to install it..
I've had an accident, what should I do?
In nearly all cases, this will require a replacement seat. Speak to your insurance and check the policy for the value your insurance will pay towards your new seat. Please note, if your insurer is insisting on Halfords vouchers but this was not written into your policy, you have a right to refuse.
If you have lost your proof of purchase from us, please contact us to have a copy sent to you via email. We can assist you with a replacement seat.
My Account
Do I have to create an account?
You are more than welcome to checkout as a guest.
Do you have any discounts for NHS/multiples?
We can support with purchases of multiple car seat in the same transaction. We no longer offer Blue Light Discount as we work hard to support everyone, in all professions.
Do you price match?
We will do our best. As we are non profit, price matching means taking the funds directly out of the support funding for families. Prices are set by the manufacturers and as retailers, we are asked to adhere to them in order to keep things fair. Sadly not all retailers follow this and some keep sales prices beyond what we are asked as retailers to do. As an ethical company, and a non profit one, we believe in following the prices set by our brands. We truly believe there is great value in our service and the extra cost will be absolutely worth shopping with us.
What data is stored?
Please see our privacy policy here.
Online availability
Tuesdays: 10am – 2pm
Thursdays: 10am – 2pm
Fridays: 10am – 12pm
Saturdays: 10am – 12pm
Sundays 10am – 12pm
Four out of hours, please email us at info@midlandscarseatcentre and we will do our best to accomodate.
Call Or Whatsapp
General: 07368450874
Email Us
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Live Chat Support
In the bottom corner of your screen, you should see a chat box that opens a window directly to our staff. We aim to respond within a few ours where possible.